Knockdown display structure



oct l, 1957 c. A. ELSBERND 2,808,221

KNocKDowN DISPLAY STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2'?. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @6L ,4. fasst-@Na A Hf@ ML ATTOR N EYS- Oct. l, 1957 Filed Jan. 27, 1954 c'. A. ELsBERND KNOCKDOWN DISPLAY STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2@ Uff@ 2% Uff@ '23% ser INVENTR. I kfz 4. fisse-evo,

2,808,221 KNOCKDWN DISPLAY STRUCTURE Carl A. Elsbernd, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Burton- Rodgers Inc., Elmwood, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,540

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-197) This invention relates to a knockdown display structure of known design wherein a plurality of panels (usuale 1y two) are hinged together and provided with interlocking means to hold the panels in open operative edge aligned position and an intermediate leg providing an easel-like structure. Such display structures have in the past been provided with leg elements which were detachably secured thereto and for shipment or transportation the brace, the intermediate leg and the legs were detached, the panels folded together and the two legs were then attached to the folded structure to form end closures and the brace and intermediate leg were attached to the structure to form side closures. A display structure as outlined above is shown in the Tucker Patent, No. 2,641,431 dated June 9, 1953.

It is au object of the present invention to provide a structure for similar purposes and uses which will be simpler and less expensive to manufacture. It is another object of the invention to provide such a structure which in the knockdown condition forms a more perfect case or crate so that the material displayed thereon is better protected. It is still another object of the invention to provide a structure along the lines mentioned which can be more rapidly set up or knocked down.

These and other objects of the invention which will be pointed out in more detail hereinafter or which will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a display structure according to my invention in erected condition with parts broken away..

Figure 2 is across sectional view of the same taken on the line 2 2. of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an Vexploded view similar to Figure 2 show-.

ing the brace removed and the panels folded together.,

,Figure 4 is a cross sectionalviewtakenon the line1 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the intermediate leg taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the display in knockdown condition and ready for transportation or shipment.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 6 on an enlarged scale, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 6 also on an enlarged scale.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide a plurality of panels which are generally rectangular in shape and which are hinged together along their adjacent long sides. It will be understood that some sort of display is provided on the front face of these panels. A cross brace is provided for holding the panels in open operative edge-aligned position and an intermediate leg r arent is hingedly and removably attached to the structure near the top to provide an easel arrangement. Each of the panels is provided with a telescoping adjustable leg mem-v ber and the intermediate leg is provided with an extensible and adjustable supplementary leg and the short edges of the panels are flanged. When it is desired to knock down the display, the telescoping legs are telescoped out of the way and secured by clamps, the extensible supplementary leg is retracted and secured in position and the intermediate leg and brace are removed from the panels. The panels are then folded together so that the flanges on the short edges of the respective panels meet in abutting relation to constitute end closures for the knockdown display and the brace and intermediate leg constitute side closures or bottom and top closures for the knockdown display.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the panels of more or less conventional design are indicated at 10 and 11. The panels consist of a framework comprising the longitudinal members 12, 13 and 14, 15 and the cross members 16, 17 and 18, 19. The members 16,17 18,19 are provided with the flanges 20, 21 and 22, 23. The anges are desirably protected by finishing strips 24.V

The panels 10 and 11 are hinged together by means of hinges 25 and from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3, it

will'be apparent that they may be folded together as inVV Figure 3 or opened up as in Figure 2. When foldedV together as in Figure 3, the flanges 21 and 23 abut each other as do the flanges 20 and 22.

In order toV retain the panels 10 and 11 in open operative edge-aligned position,'I employ a brace consisting of 4an elongated board or the like 26 Which may be reinforced as by means of a member 27 secured thereto. The brace 26 and the panels 10 and 11 are provided with coopera-` tive interlocking elements 28 and 29, as is well known,

and blocks 30 are secured to the backs of the panels f below the members 29 to hold the brace 26 in position.v

The member 26 is also provided with hasps 31, one adjacent each end which cooperate with certain staples as will hereinafter be pointed out. Pins or dowels 32 are also provided on the brace 26 for reasons which will be.

pointed out hereinafter.

The leg members for the structure comprise the hairpinretracted and then reclamped, as best seen in Figure 6.

In order to provide an easel arrangement there is shown aninte'rmediate legY 36. This intermediate leg is pro-r vided at each end with a block 37 to which is secured a hasp 38. On the back of one of the panels, a staple 39 is secured to a block 40 and just above the block 40 is provided an abutment block 41 having a sloping lower surface at 42. The intermediate leg 36 is secured to the panel by engaging the upper hasp 38 over the staple 39 and locking it with a suitable pin (not shown).

The intermediate leg 36 is provided with the flanges 43 which have sloping ends as at 44, the flanges 43 acting as skids for the knockdown display. An extensible supplementary leg is shown at 45 and it is provided with the slots 46. Bolts 47 passing through the slots 46 of the member 45 and through holes in the intermediate leg 36 clamp the extensible leg 45 in a desired position of adjustment. Wing nuts 48 may be provided for quick op eration.

In Figure 4, the extensible leg 45 is shown as being extended to a point to cause the panels 10 and 11 to occupy Patented Oct. 1 1957 extensibleleglies-Whnllyfbelow; the tops: of theangesf which'zserve vas the skid members :so that ,'thefextensible 1 leg in` -no `way interferesI with; the skiddingtof': display over a floor surface.

`Thei-ntermediate leg 56 is braced by means ofthe hooks .49 which are secured-tothe member 36' 4bythe eyesSlll and which engage-hasps'Sl; secured; to the'tbacks ofthe panels andtll respectively.

From a consideration ofFigure..1,it will be. noted that the `frame members `12 and 15 `are 'provided with holes 32a which accommodate the. dovvels32 on=the brace 26 whenthe structure is knockeddovvn.` `lt .will alsobe notedk that the; panel lisprovided withthe staples 311': and 38h at its upper end and the panel 1-1 1i is provided with the'staples'la `and38rz at itsfrlower end. It will have been observed that the hasps 31 on the member 26;.are laterally offsetfand'itwill now Vbe `cle'ar'that whenfthe panels 10 andi11 arefolded. together andthe member'26 is placed on topv of =the,knockdoWn structure, as seen in Figure 6, the dowels or pins 32 enter'the holes'32a and the hasps31` may engage .With the respective staples 31a and 31b. It will. alsobe clear that it-makes no difference if the member `26 is reversed end fort endbecause-the otsetfhasps willstill engage thearespectivetstaples. The hasps maythen be secured with pins, padlocks or the like if desired. The member gthus constitutes a side or top' closure for the knockdown display.

The bottom closure and skid-is provided by theV intermediate leg 36 with the supplementary leg45 retracted andwith the hasps 38 engaging respectively the .staples 38a and' 381;. These hasps,38 areilikewisef laterally offset so that the hasp 38 atone end engages the staple 38h securedto the panel ltlwhile the hasp 38vat'theother end engages the staple 38a secured to the panelzll.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there are only two pieces which must be detached from theverected` displayy in order to convert it to knockdown condition and therefore the operation of erecting or knocking down the display can be accomplished .with great speed. Also in itsknockdown condition, the display is fully protected by the brace 26 at the top, the intermediate leg 36 at the bottom and the cooperating anges"20,`21, 22 and 23 at theends.

iIt will bennderstood that modifications and variations may'bemade without departing'from the spirit of my invention and I therefore vdo not intend to limit myself exceptas set forth in the-claims which follow.

"Having` now fully described my invention, what 1 claim as n ewand desire tosecure byvLetters Patent is:

l. A' knockdown displayy unit comprising a plurality of panels .hingedly secured together, an elongated brace, interengaging locking means carried by the rear of said panels andthe forward side, of said brace for detachably securing said brace to saidA panels to ,therebyhold the latter inercia operative edge-alisnedrcssitoe a rai! 9i legs telescopically and adjustably secured, one to each of said panels, an intermediate leg, means hingedly and detachably securing said intermediate leg to the upper portion of said unit, means limiting the angular adjustment of said intermediate leg relative to, said unit, said panels having ianges along their shorter 'edges such that when -1 said panels are 'folded together along. theirl'meeting long @dass ,said tieners meer 1Q frmm Closures for Said unit,- -anld correlated means {carried} by Said, brace and intermediate leg and marginal portions of said pane/ls for securing said intermediate leg and brace to the long sides of said'folded panels to. constituteside closnresforsaid unit, one of said panelsihaving afgstening element adjacent each end of one of its short sides, another of said panels having a fastening element adjacent each end of the short side at the other end with respect to said one panel, and Ysaid* brace and intermediate leg having-fasteningy elements atv their ends'cooperatingwith the-fasteningelements on said panels, the fastening elements at one end of Vsaid brace and intermediate leg being laterally offset with-respect'to the-fastening elements at the other ends of said brace and intermediate legrespectively.

2. A;knockdown display unit comprising a plurality of panels hingedly secured together, an elongated brace, interengaginglocking means carried by-the rear of said panels andthe forward side of saidbrace for detachablysecuring saidvbrace to said ypanels yto thereby hold the latter in open, operative, edge=aligncd position, a pair of legs telescopically and adjustably secured, one to each of said panels, `an'intermediate legmeans hingedly and detachably securing said intermediate legito the upper portion of said unit, means limiting the angular adjustment of said intermediate leg relative to said unit, saidpanels havingflanges along their shorteredges such that when saidpanels are folded togethery along their meeting long edges, said flanges meet to form end closures for said unit, and correlated means carried by said brace and intermediate leg and-marginal portions of .said panels for securingsaid. intermediate leg and brace to the long sides of said folded panels to constitute side closures for said unit, each ofsaid panels comprising a frame, each leg of said pair comprising a hairpin-like rod passing through spaced holes in said frame, and clamping means on said panel-for clamping said leg ina desired position of extension or retraction, said leg when retracted lying substantially ush with the back of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,068 Van Kirk June 27, 1882 606,100 Thompson June 2l, 189.8 1,480,631 Osborn Y.... Jan. 15, 1924 2,262,939 Howard Nov. 18, 19.41 2,573,412 Diefendorf Oct. 3,0, 1951 2,641,431 Tucker June 9, 1953 

